Metal bending hand tool



Sept. 1958 M. MACALUSO, JR 2,852,971

METAL BENDING HAND TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Dec. 26, 1956 INVENTOR.MICHAEL MACALUS 0, JR.

w. 51 R fit Q Q l twill] p 23, 1958 M. MACALUSO, JR 2,852,971

METAL BENDING HAND TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1956 m w w mMICHAEL MACALUSO, JR.

A 7TOR/VEY United States Patent ()fitice 2,852,971 Patented Sept. 23,1958 METAL BENDING HAND TOOL Michael Macaluso, Jr., Rochester, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1956, Serial No. 630,673

7 Claims. (CI. 81-15) This invention relates to metal working tools andmore particularly to a tool for holding, clamping and bending metal.

Over the last several years, the number of motor vehicles on the highwayhas increased at a phenomenal rate so that the mathematical probabilityof two or more vehicles colliding has increased likewise at a phenomenalrate. In an almost parallel channel the design of each new car model hasbecome more conscious of style so that designers, in order to give ventto their conception of modern design, have added numerous bulges, finsand other media to the automobile. With each new bulge in a vehiclefender and With the possibility of that bulge obtaining some accidentalwrinkle from another vehicle, light post, etc., the need for moreskilled persons to remove the unwanted wrinkle and the demand for bettertools to meet the requirements of the large variety of bumps and dents avhicle is likely to receive opened the door for the instant invention.

Tools currently on the market provide means for straightening a largevariety of dents, bumps and the like, but they are not universal enoughto provide the degree of flexibility required for modern automobiles.None of the currently available tools are adapted for use as a holdingor clamping tool. Most of the readily available tools consist of aplurality of pivotally interconnected rigid links that are limited inthe range of application, for instance, by the fact that they cannot bemade to extend around a compound curved surface to get a purchase forholding a panel in position while it is being welded or bolted to theframe. One example of this is the effort involved in replacing a rockerpanel where a purchase up under and behind thepanel is required to holdthe panel in position while it is being fastened to the frame. Itrequires ingenious improvision with existing tools together with thehelp of two men to even simulate an adequate means for doing the job.

Other prior art bending tools have links of fixed length between thehandle and the work engaging portion which not only limit the amount ofapplicable leverage but also require a relatively large work area topermit the handle to swing through an are sufficient to move the dentedmetal so that in close quarters or inaccessible spaces these prior toolsare useless and resort must be had to a pinch bar and hammer to do thejob. Another limitation on existing tools lies in the fixed position,fixed setting available with the tools that does not permit a wide,continuous range of uses required in the bumping business today.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to overcome thedisadvantage of the prior art and to provide an improved metal holding,clamping and bending tool that is capable of working sheet metal andframe parts with a minimum of effort.

It is another object of this invention to provide a metal working toolthat is extremely versatile thereby allowing fora broad range of usesboth in the bending of old panels and the like and in the application ofnew panels and the like.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a metal workingtool that is easily adjustable in several aspects whereby the tool maybe rapidly and advantageously adjusted to meet various conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a metal working toolwhich will be substantially simple in construction, strong, durable,highly efficient and dependable in use.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a metalworking tool which will be compact, light in weight, and relatively easyand inexpensive to manufacture.

And a still further object of this invention is to provide a metalworking tool which is adapted to be uniform in operation, having but fewoperating parts, and will be unlikely to get out of repair.

And yet a further object of this invention is to provide a metal workingtool which has a flexible, adjustable link which permits a wide varietyof bending and clamping jobs to be performed therewith.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention willbe best understood from a consideration of the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing formingpart of this specification, with the understanding, however, that theinvention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing ofthe drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of metal bending toolembodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view in longitudinal section of a portionof the tool shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4- is a perspective view of an adapter for with my inventionshown in Figure 1; t

Figure 5 is a side view in longitudinal section of the tool applied to abumper, trunk lid, or fender section;

Figure 6 is a side view in longitudinal section of the tool applied to arocker panel;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tool ready for use with a bumperor frame member;

Figure -8 is a side view in longitudinal section of the tool fitted withthe adapter and being used on a fender or body panel;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tool being used to straighten amisaligned door; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tool being used to hold a fenderin place for attachment to the vehicle chassis.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts in each ofthe views, my invention inits present embodiment comprises an elongated lever or arm 10 having oneend portion 12 angled with respect thereto and to which is fastened abearing bar or rod 14 extending perpendicular to the plane containingthe axis of the lever. The rod 14 is welded at its mid-portion to thelever 10 and has a pair of bumpers 16 and 18 made of rubber or the likefastened respectively to the ends 20 and 22 thereof. The rod 14 isadapted to be placed against a firm or solid surface which will form onecontact point of a leverage system as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

I have also illustrated in Figure l a bearing pad 15 comprising arectangularly-shaped base portion covered by' belt which is adapted tobe placed against a finished surface without marring the finish. A pairof spring clamps 19 projects from the rear of the pad and are adapted tobe engaged with the ends 26, 22 of the rod 14 so that the pad can bepositioned on the lever at a large number of positions around the rod 14depending on the relative position of the work surface with respect tothe lever.

The lever 10 which is preferably made of metal of suitable length isangled or bent near the rod end 12 thereof in such a way that the axisof the rod end portion 12 lies at an angle of approximately 120 with theaxis of the lever. The angled end portion will permit the rod end 12 ofthe tool to be inserted in awkward places where a good purchase for abending or holding operation can be secured. The principle of anglingthe end portion of the lever is commonly used in the wrench art whereinthe open-ended wrench has the engaging end angled with respect to thehandle thereof so that the open-end of the wrench can be engaged with anut or bolt head in a place that would be inaccessible to a straightwrench. The angled end likewise provides a means whereby the directingof the downward force on the rod end of the lever is such as tostabilize the holding or bending force without creating an undue bendingforce on the lever.

Axially slidable on the lever 10 is a clamp body 25 which comprises anelongated hollow housing 27 having a pair of aligned apertures 28, 29formed through the opposite end portions thereof and into whichapertures said lever 10 is adapted to be slidably received. The housing27 has an inwardily extending projection or abutment 31 formed on theinside thereof in close proximity to the lower side of the aperture 29.The abutment 31 lies substantially parallel to the axis of the lever 10and has an inner portion 33 adapted to lie in the path of and be engagedby a locking ring 35.

The locking ring 35 has an aperture 37 therethrough which aperture is ofa diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the lever 10. Theaperture 37 in said ring 35 is adapted to receive said lever 10 foraxial movement thereon when the plane of said ring is perpendicular tothe axis of said lever. The ring 35 has a release tab 39 extendingoutwardly from a peripheral portion thereof which tab passes through andbeyond an opening 40 in the top wall 42 ofthe housing 27. A compressionspring 44 is concentrically disposed about said lever 16 within the.housing 27 and bears between a shoulder 46 therein and one side of thering 35 in such a manner that one edge ofthe ring 35 is caused to bearagainst the face 33 of the projection 31 so that the unsupported edge ofthe ring is canted relative to the axis of the lever sufficiently togrip into the lever and hold the clamp body 25 locked relative to thelever. The release tab 39 of the ring 35 is so positioned outside thehousing 27 through the opening 40 that a finger of an operator of thetool may be pressed against said tab to pivot the ring about the edge incontact with the abutment or projection 31 and against the compressionof the spring 44. When the ring 35 has been pivoted enough to align theaperture 37 with the lever 10, the clamp body 25 may be moved in eitherdirection along the length of said lever for adjusting the distancevbetween the clamp body 25 and the rod end 14 of the lever 10.

Projecting from the lower portion. of the clamp body 25 are twospaced-apart substantially parallel side members 48 and 50 through whichare formed a pair of aligned apertures 52 and 54. The lengthwisedimension of the sides of the clamp body extend along the length of theshaft in planes that are substantially parallel to said shaft. A pin 56extends through said apertures 52, 54 and has a head 58 on one endportion adapted to bear against one of the sides such as 48 and has aspring-pressed ball 60, of conventional design, near the other endportion thereof. The pin 56 may be passed either way through theapertures 52, 54 under pressure for assembly or disassembly from theclamp body. The spring-pressed ball 60 prevents the pin from beingaccidentally displaced therefrom.

A chain 62 comprising a plurality of links is of such a size as to notonly pass between the parallel sides 48 and 53 but also is large enoughto permit the pin 56 to pass therethrough for securing the chain to theclamp body 25. The effective working length of the chain is varied byinserting the pin through different links of said chain. A book 53comprising a back 6 and a curved portion 66 is constructed of fiatmaterial that is quit wide in the horizontal dimension so as to presenta surface that is adapted to engage with the metal or frame across asubstantial distance so that the engaged metal will not be needlesslytorn or dented. The hook 63 is fastened to the chain by using a lap linkor chain repair type link as the first link of the chain Which link ispassed through an aperture 63 in the back 64 of the hook. The distancebetween the pin 56 and the base of the hook can be easily varied byengaging the pin 56 in different links of the chain.

In Figure 4, an adapter 69 which comprises a flat plate 70 having athreaded stud 72 extending from the central portion thereof, is adaptedto be fastened to the hook 63 by inserting the stud through the aperture74 in the curved portion of the hook 63 and threading a nut 75 on thethreaded portion of the stud 72. The adapter has many varied uses withthe tool as will become apparent hereinafter.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that analmost endless combination of leverage systems can be created by thevarious combinations of settings of the clamp body 25 along the lever 10and by the different lengths of chain created by moving the pin therealong relative to the hook.

Different applications of my invention are illustrated in Figures 5 to10 wherein Figure 5 shows the clamp body 25 positioned comparativelyclose to the rod 14 on the lever 10 with the chain adjusted so that onlya short length extends between the pin 56 and the hook 63. Assembled onthe rod 14 is the bearing pad 15 having its felt 17 engaging With. asolid portion of an automobile body panel so that with the hook 63engaging under the edge of said body panel an upward lifting force onthe lever 10 will bend the hook engaged portion into any desiredposition relative to the rest of the panel. It is like- Wise possible touse the instant tool to hold thehook engaged portion in some definiteposition relative to the rest of the panel as a welding, bracing or someother operation is performed at the held portion.

Figure 6 illustrates the situation where the chain has been elongated bymoving the pin 56 to a different link therein and the clamp body 25 isstill locked on the lever 10 in close proximity to the rod 14. In theillustrated form, the lever is rotated so that the rod 14 bears againstthe indent in a rocker panel 76 of the automobile body with the hook 63connected to the channel of the frame 77 so that pressure on the lever10 toward the automobile body will position the frame and rocker panelinto proper alignment. With the rocker panel so held in position it iseasily welded into place in a neat and professional manner. The rockerpanel of an automobile is frequently replaced, however, it is extremelydiflicult to get the panel properly positioned for welding without theuse of two men. Using my improved tool as illustrated in Figure 6 itbecomes a simple one-man operation which results in a superior finishedjob.

Figure 7 shows the clamp body 25 moved to a new position on the lever 10which position is spaced considerably along the lever 10 from the rodend 14 and shows a long length of chain between the clamp body 25 andhook 63 which chain is formed in a loop by passing a bolt through theaperture 74 in the curved portion of the hook 63 and one link of thechain. With the hook Figure 8 illustrates the use of the adapter 69shown in Figure 4 to remove a caved-in section of a door or other panel78 of a vehicle. A small hole is first drilled through a low spot in thecaved-in portion whereby the plate 68 can be placed on the inside of thecaved-in portion with the stud 72 extending through the drilled hole.The stud 72 is then passed through the aperture 74 in the hook 63 andbolted thereto. With the adapter 69 bolted V to the hook, the rod 14 ispositioned against the automobile body so that a lifting force exertedon the lever pulls the caved-in portion to substantially the originalposition relative to the rest of the panel. By leading over the drilledhole in the panel, the panel is ready for painting and reuse. This useof my improved tool is especially important in view of the fact that theconstruction of present day vehicles is such that it is impossible toget behind most of the panels of the vehicle to hammer out a dent. Inthe example illustrated in Figure 8, it is clearly shown how the innersplash guard 79 almost completely encases the inside of the caved-infender section so that it becomes nearly impossible to hammer out a dentin the fender. My improved tool completely eliminates this problem.

Figure 9 illustrates the tool being used to bend a door of a vehiclethat has been sprung. The clamp body is moved into close proximity tothe rod end of the lever 10 and the chain is lengthened so that the hook63 can be engaged with the frame of the vehicle. With the felt 17 of thebearing pad 15 placed against the outwardly bent part of a door 86) andwith a block of wood 81 wedged between the door and the door pillar, anupward force on the end of the lever 10 will bend the lower portion ofthe door inwardly until proper alignment is attained.

In Figure 10, a front fender 82 is being assembled on the frame of avehicle. Generally replacement panels, lids, fenders and the like aredifiicult to assemble on the vehicle for many reasons. The chief reasonbeing that the frame of a used vehicle, especially if it has been in acollision, is loosened or twisted just enough so that the fasteningholes in the panels and frame do not line up. By the use of my tool asillustrated in Figure 10, or in other obvious ways, it is possible todeform the panel sufficiently to align the holes in the frame and panelto make assembly possible. The tool of the instant invention can be usedto hold a panel or fender on the frame during attachment to the frame.By hooking the hook 63 on the frame and permitting the chain to passunder the lower portion of the fender a support is formed for thefender. Upon placing the bearing pad 15 against the side of the fender82 andlifting up on the lever 10, it is possible to position the fenderso as to facilitate attachment to the frame.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various othermodifications may be made in the same with.- out departing from thespirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements andcombinations of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. A metal working tool having an elongated lever, a bar disposedperpendicular to the lever and having its mid-portion attached to theend of said lever for forming one contact of a leverage system, andgripping means adjustable along the length of said lever and carrying ahook for forming the second contact of the leverage system, wherebypressureon said lever will move one contact relative to the other.

2. A tool having an elongated lever, a bar disposed perpendicular to thelever and having its mid-portion attached to the end thereof, holdingmeans adjustable along the length of said lever, flexible meansadjustably carried by said holding means, and engaging means carried bythe free end of said flexible means, whereby said bar and engaging meansare adapted to contact at spaced points selected portions of a workpiece.

3. In a metal working tool the combination of a lever having a legportion disposed at an angle with respect to the major portion thereof,a bearing pad adjustably carried by one end of said leg portion andadapted to engage with one portion of a vehicle, a clamp body axially adjustable along said lever, a lock ring slidably received on a said leverwithin said clamp body, a release tab on said ring extending through anopening in the wall of said clamp body, spring means within said clampbody bearing against said ring for canting said ring at an angle to theaxis of the lever whereby said clamp body is held fixed relative to thelever, a chain comprising a plurality of links, a pin carried by theclamp body engaging with one of said links, and a hook carried by oneend of said chain adapted to be engaged with a second portion of thevehicle, whereby pressure on the end of the lever will position said oneportion of the vehicle relative to said second portion.

4. In a metal working tool the combination of a lever having a legportion disposed at an angle with respect to the major portion thereof,a bearing bar fastened at its mid-portion to the end of said legportion, a clamp body axially adjustable along said lever, a lock ringslidably received on said lever within said clamp body, a release tab onsaid ring extending through an opening in the wall of said clamp body,means within said clamp body for canting said ring at an angle to theaxis of the lever whereby said clamp body is held fixed relative to thelever, a chain member fastened to said clamp body and a hook carried byone end of said chain adapted to be engaged with a panel of a vehicle,whereby pressure on the lever with the bearing bar and hook engagedrespectively with a solid and a dented portion of the body will move thedented portion toward the normal position thereof.

5. In a tool the combination of a lever having a leg portion disposed atan angle with respect to the major portion thereof, a bearing barfastened at its mid-portion to the end of said leg portion, a clamp bodyaxially adjustable along said lever, a lock ring slidably received onsaid lever within said clamp body, a release tab on said ring extendingthrough an opening in the wall of said clamp body, means within saidclamp body for canting said ring at an angle to the axis of the leverwhereby said clamp body is held fixed relative to the lever, a chain,means for adjustably fastening said chain to said clamp body, and a hookcarried by one end of said chain.

6. In a metal working tool comprising a lever and a pair of workengaging members, the combination of means for adjusting one engagingmember relative to the other comprising a hollow housing having alignedapertures therethrough for slidably receiving the lever therein, anabutment formed on the inner wall of said housing and extending inwardlyalong a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said lever, anapertured lock ring surrounding said lever within said housing, thediameter of the aperture in said lock ring being slightly larger thanthe diameter of the lever, a release tab carried by said lock ring andextending through an opening in the side of said housing, a springsurrounding said lever within said housing and acting between one wallof the housing and the lock ring for canting said lock ring about apoint of contact with said abutment and into engagement with said leverfor holding the housing against movement along the length of the lever,and

means on said housing for holding one of the work engaging members,whereby movement of the housing along the lever willmove said last-namedwork engaging member relative to the other work engaging member.

7. In a tool comprising a lever and a pair of work engaging means, thecombination of means for adjusting one engaging means relative to theother comprising a clamp body having aligned apertures therethrough forslidably' receiving the lever therein, an abutment formed on the innerwall of said housing below one of said apertures and extending inwardlyof the housing, a lock ring having an aperture therethrough of adiameter slightly larger than the diameter of the lever, said lock ringreceiving said lever in said aperture within said housing, a release tabcarried by said lock ring and extending through an opening in the sideof said housing, a spring surrounding said lever within said housing andacting between one wall of the housing and the lock ring for cantingsaid lock ring about a point of contact with said abutment and intoengagement with said lever for holding the clamp body against movementalong the length of the lever, a chain having a plurality of links, apin carried by said clamp body and engaging with a selected one of saidlink-s, whereby the length of said chain can be varied, and a hookcarried by the free end of the chain, whereby varying the length of thechain adjusts the one work engaging means relative to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,737,084 Hilstad Nov. 26, 1929 1,758,052 Missman May 13, 1930 2,191,720Meinhardt Feb. 27, 1940 2,597,103 Johnson et a1. May 20, 1952 2,616,317Hakkerup Nov. 4, 1952 2,723,578 Konola Nov. 15, 1955 2,776,587 KiiliusJan. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,325 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1949

